WETHERSFIELD NEWS NOTES

The town council voted Tuesday night to end trash and recycling service to apartment complexes as of July 1, which will save the town $60,000 in the 1994-95 fiscal year.

Owners of apartment buildings with four or more units will have to provide for their own trash removal and recycling service as of that date, Town Manager Lee C. Erdmann said.

About 1,400 apartments will be affected by the council's action, Health Director Paul Hutcheon said.

Until this year, the town had provided collection services to apartment buildings at no charge. But in an effort to save money, the council voted last year to begin charging for the services, Erdmann said.

The town will be going out to bid soon for a new three-year trash and recycling contract, he said. The current contract, with Sanitary Services Corp. Inc. of Manchester, expires June 30.

Nature program to feature leopard

A black leopard will visit the Wethersfield Nature Center on Sunday as the star of the Wildcat Program - an effort to illustrate the plight of endangered species. There will be a presentation on captive breeding programs and on wild cats' behavior and care. A representative from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will bring in the leopard, named Smoky. The program will run from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 8 and up. Children 7 and under are free. The snow date is March 6. For more information, call the center 721-2953. The nature center is at 30 Greenfield St.

High school band sets concert Tuesday

The high school band and auxiliary unit will present their annual winter band concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium. The theme for this year's concert will be "A Night of Classics," featuring classical as well as popular and show music. The high school jazz ensemble will also perform in what will be its first public appearance.

Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for students. They are available from any band or auxiliary unit member in advance or at the door the evening of the concert. All proceeds will go toward the band and auxiliary unit's upcoming trip to a festival competition in Washington, D.C. In the event of snow, the concert will be held Wednesday.

2 are finalist for merit scholarship

High school students John Dennis and Daniel Kirkpatrick have been named National Merit Scholarship finalists, a distinction that places them in a group of less than 1 percent of graduating seniors across the country.

The finalists are being considered for 2,000 scholarships worth $2,000 each. About 4,500 other merit scholarships will be offered, but only finalists who meet criteria specified by award sponsors will be considered for them.

Scholarship winners will be announced in March and April. The program operates without government money, and the scholarships are underwritten by some 600 independent sponsor groups and institutions.

Student vocalist receives honor

Sara Marcoux, a member of the high school concert choir and Choralaires, returned Sunday from Washington, D.C., where she took part in a concert given by the American Choral Directors Association Honors Choir.

The selective choir, which represents 12 Northeastern states, performed at the association's regional conference. Students are chosen on the basis of an audition tape submitted by their high school choral director.

Hockey team plans spaghetti supper

The high school hockey team will hold a spaghetti dinner March 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Church on the Silas Deane Highway. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. All proceeds will benefit the team. For tickets, call Linda or Tom at 563-2521 The dinner will be in the Ladies' Hall of the church.

PTO needs a hand with carnival night

The Webb Kindergarten Center PTO is sponsoring an international carnival night for kindergartners and their families on March 18 at the high school cafeteria and gym from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.

Volunteers, from teenagers to grandparents, are needed to help set up, clean up and run the carnival game booths. Ethnic entertainment, dancing and singing, for example, is also being solicited.

If you are interested in volunteering for the carnival night, please call Kathy Harris at 721-9033c or Judy Randazzo at 529-9898.